POLICE PROCEDURE FOR IDENTIFICATION OF DEAD PERSONS (Particulars)

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Defence (a) what procedure is adopted by the Police when carrying out investigations to identify a dead person found by them; (b) what form of liaison the Police maintain with the hospitals to ensure that the next-of-kin can claim a corpse from a hospital mortuary in the most satisfactory manner; and (c) if he will ensure that the Police will contact and inform the family of a deceased person without fail where the identity of that person has been established.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the first part of the question, I will say that where there are means of identification of the body, the Police will then immediately inform the next-of-kin of the deceased. If no means of identification are available, then the list of persons reported missing is checked while, at the same time, an appeal is made through the press for assistance in identification from members of the public.

Where the identity of the dead person cannot be established after a lapse of four days, the body is disposed of by the Government. Particulars relating to the dead body, however, are kept for purposes of record.

Mr Speaker, Sir, there is constant liaison between the hospital authorities and the Police through the Police post at the Outram Road General Hospital. The Police post receives as well as disseminates information regarding sudden deaths, or deaths brought about by violence, or deaths in which the cause is unknown. After investigation, the Police will contact and inform the next-of-kin of the deceased. In certain instances the body may be removed from the mortuary after the identity has been established before the Coroner and/or after an autopsy has been performed. Where the identity of the dead person has been established, the Police will always contact and inform the family of the deceased person. Where a person dies in hospital as a result of illness and the relatives of the deceased are not readily available, it has also been the practice of the Police to assist in contacting the relatives of the deceased.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister say whether the report in the Straits Times of 18th February that a Mr Goh Tee was buried as an unknown person is correct?

Mr Speaker: Order. I would not call that a supplementary question under Standing Orders. We will go on to the next question. Mr Ng Yeow Chong.